#89 The World Has All Sorts of Weird Things. Ice Dragon's Egg.
Choi Kang-ho stared silently at Theo, who was proudly showing off the egg. Furball wore a look of utter betrayal. From outside the window, its eyes rolled dramatically—no mistaking that expression. Theo flinched, sensing it.
[But hey, it did its best, you know.]
“......”
Kang-ho replied to Theo.
“Good work.”
[Yeah! Good work!]
Theo beamed with pride.
“......”
Jiangshi. Kang-ho mused. Those who commanded jiangshi were plentiful on the Chinese mainland. Taoist sorcery, that ability, fell into two main categories: good and evil. The benevolent side handled healing and buffs—the classic white magic role. The malevolent side was black magic, steeped in Eastern flavors. And among those infamous for their dark Taoist arts were the Awakeners of China's eastern continent.
The Paewangmun, rulers of eastern China. Kang-ho knew full well that one of their top heavyweights had slipped into Korea.
Xiao Shin?
Paewangmun's guild master was Zhang Wei. The man had just announced his trip to Korea.
Kang-ho nodded and turned, stepping out of the log cabin.
Furball flinched, its eyes rolling again. Kang-ho smiled faintly and stroked its chin.
“You're still my number one, Furball. I was right to trust you.”
Paewangmun's elites were no joke. If they'd stolen the egg from Furball during a moment of carelessness, it was hardly surprising. Truth be told, Kang-ho hadn't anticipated this at all.
Krreung! Furball perked up, wagging its tail vigorously.
“My Furball's the best guardian. So responsible. Yeah, tonight I'll get you your favorite treat. Gotta tell Seol-a how amazing her big bro was too.”
Krreung, krreung! Furball nodded enthusiastically, then bounded off happily, clearly pleased.
“Hmm......”
Now back inside, he examined the Ice Dragon's egg again. Since it had come from an extreme frozen zone, he'd placed it where Seol-a had hatched. He had no experience with this particular beast, so he'd figured that spot made sense.
The egg looked unchanged.
Is Xiao Shin after this?
As Kang-ho gazed at it intently, a sudden hum vibrated through the air.
Wooong— The subtle tremor from the egg felt unique. It began pulsing rhythmically: wooong, wooong.
Hatching?
No, not quite like a hatchling's stirrings. Kang-ho tilted his head, observing closely. The faint vibrations continued steadily: wooong—wooong—
* * *
Zhang Wei was in his early forties, brimming with youthful vigor. He was a man steeped to the bone in Han Chinese supremacy.
China's vast landmass had birthed countless Awakeners, among them four supreme powerhouses known as the Four Heavenly Kings. Two of them belonged to Paewangmun in the eastern continent. Just as Qin Shi Huang had unified the land, Paewangmun would conquer it all.
His prime years at forty fueled endless ambition. His peak prowess had earned him World Rank 4, though he paid little mind to the rankings.
They said Canada had Miracle, but China had the Paewang.
As he stood in the arrivals hall, reporters swarmed like hounds, cameras flashing. His glaring eyes were sharp as a ghost's, lips pressed firm and resolute. A fierce white aura rippled around him like an otherworldly glow.
Zhang Wei ignored the barrage, striding forward.
“Hey...!”
As one reporter approached—
Pzzzt—crackle! Lightning struck from empty space.
“Eek!” The reporter stumbled back and fell flat. The bolt sizzled on the marble floor right before him.
Keeheeheeng— A beast materialized, hovering midair and glaring down.
SS-rank Fantasy Beast, Kirin. The legendary creature, rarely glimpsed in a lifetime, drew gasps from the crowd. Its body blended beasts: deer-like spotted torso, slender ox tail protruding sharply. Hooves like a horse's, face vaguely equine but shrouded in white fur. Most striking was the single translucent silver horn jutting from its forehead, crackling with thunder.
Floating effortlessly, it left white afterimages. SS-rank Kirin had arrived.
Kirin! Though few SS-rank Fantasy Beasts existed, info on Kirin was somewhat public. It pledged eternal loyalty to its benefactor, unwavering even after death. Zhang Wei had forged his fame battling alongside it across countless fronts.
He extended a hand. Kirin withdrew its hostility, circling above his head. Thus, he exited the airport and rode a limo to Seoul's finest hotel.
* * *
Slap! Xiao Shin tumbled across the floor but sprang up at attention.
Slap! He rolled again, face swollen, then stood and bowed.
“I have no excuses.”
“Pathetic.”
Zhang Wei's voice was flat.
“If you'd lost to Choi Kang-ho, you'd have some dignity. What? To some nobody no one's heard of?”
“My apologies.”
Xiao Shin bowed deeper.
“Who was it?”
“Theo... Itilurg Gamigin... that bastard.”
“Theo...?”
Zhang Wei scowled. Korea. Despite his Han chauvinism, he didn't underestimate it. But small nations were always small—bowing before great powers. No matter the Eastern mysticism, they couldn't top China's constellation of elites. He knew Korea's threats: the Hero 5, the freshly promoted SS-ranks. But no Theo.
“Code name... Hades.”
“Hades?”
“Korean S-rank... around 20th.”
Slap! Xiao Shin rolled again.
Zhang Wei chuckled dryly, slumping onto the sofa.
“I gave you all those Northern faction corpses from the war. And you lost them all to some S-rank 20th-rate?”
“N-no excuses.”
Zhang Wei's irritation festered. Missing the Ice Dragon, its egg, and his precious jiangshi. Was this clown really one of China's Four Heavenly Kings?
“And... Choi Kang-ho seems to be backing him.”
“What?”
Interest sparked in Zhang Wei's eyes. Choi Kang-ho. The hyped powerhouse, fresh off slaying a Demon Realm warlord. But Zhang doubted the hype. China had faced demons too, and these warlords sounded suspicious—only Koreans had eyewitnesses. Videos didn't convey true power. The other Heroes? Manageable for him.
“Ian Rampage is with them too.”
“Ian...”
Zhang Wei stroked his chin thoughtfully. Ian Rampage was tricky. His artifact loadout rivaled Zhang's own. To beat him, he'd need the Ice Dragon—or rather, its activated heart.
He reached out; Kirin appeared, licking his palm. Mystical power pulsed from its core.
I must have it, no matter what.
Ambition blazed in his eyes.
Ku-gu-gu-gung— Dark clouds gathered outside the suite window. Unseasonal for early spring, thunder rumbled: gu-gung, gu-gung.
Zhang Wei gazed at the sky.
So that's how it is.
Somehow, the world's top powers were converging on this little nation.
. . . . . . .
The forecast droned on. Kang-ho was tending the baby Thunderbirds for the first time in a while.
Kak-kak-kak! Their wingspans had grown; they flapped clumsily into the sky, circling proudly for him. Then a massive shadow descended.
Kaaaah—! The parents.
The two Thunderbirds watched their chicks fondly before landing and nuzzling Kang-ho affectionately.
“You're ready to fly solo now, huh?”
Kaaaah! The mother nodded.
Suddenly—
Gu-gu-gu-gung— The sky turned ominous. Kang-ho glanced afar.
Dark clouds...
Snow in Cheorwon was common, but this scale? Unprecedented. Ink-black clouds spread like spilled on white paper, engulfing the heavens—including Cheorwon.
Suddenly—
Kaaaaahhh! The parents' eyes widened; they rocketed skyward. Their wingbeats whipped up gales. They pierced the clouds, charging fiercely at something.
“......?”
Then—
Goooooo— Time and sound halted in eerie silence.
Gu-woong—gu-woong— Violent tremors hit. Kang-ho turned; the source was inside the cabin. The Ice Dragon's egg vibrated wildly, glowing blinding blue.
At the same moment—
Shweeeeeek— Something plummeted from the clouds.
Kuuuung! A massive boom. The two Thunderbirds crashed down, bodies frozen solid.
“......”
Kang-ho let out a hollow laugh.
Soon, a blizzard ravaged the world.
Shwaaaaa—! Amid gale-force winds and snow, a colossal figure descended.
“The world has all sorts of weird things.”
Kang-ho shook his head.